Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 19
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Ashtavakra Gita Chapter 19 – Janaka’s Abidance in His Own Essence: the Splendour of the Self
Ashtavakra Gita Chapter 19 – Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
This chapter presents King Janaka absorbing and affirming the Self-knowledge revealed by Sage Ashtavakra. Having renounced all plural views and assessments through Supreme knowledge, Janaka repeatedly asserts the infinite glory of the Self and firmly denies the dualities of the universe.
Established in his own self-effulgence, Janaka denounces the three states of awareness—waking, dream and sleep—and even their substratum. Existing in his own magnificence, he negates the distinctions of external and internal, gross and subtle, life and death, dharma, artha, kama, yoga practices and worldliness.
Ideas, notions, states, practices and precepts lose their hold, for the Self alone remains real.
This chapter reflects the fullness of Janaka’s realization after hearing his teacher. It reveals the depth of his conviction, clarity and unwavering abidance in the singular reality of the Self.
Complete List of Verses in Ashtavakra Samhita Chapter 19
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.1Extracting the Thorn of Doubt with the Tongs of Self-Knowledge
एकोनविंशोऽध्याय:
जनक उवाच ।
तत्त्वविज्ञानसन्दंशमादाय हृदयोदरात् ।
नानाविधपरामर्शशल्योद्धार: कृतो मया ॥ १९.१ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.1: English Transliteration
ekonaviṃśo’dhyāyaḥ –
janaka uvāca ।
tattva-vijñāna-sandaṃśam-ādāya hṛdayodarāt ।
nānā-vidha-parāmarśa-śalyoddhāraḥ kṛto mayā ॥19.1॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.1: Translation
Taking the tongs of the knowledge of supreme Truth, I have extracted from the heart’s cavity the thorn of plural views and assessments.
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.2Where Is Dharma, Desire or Duality for One Who Abides in the Self?
क्व धर्म: क्व च वा काम: क्व चार्थ: क्व विवेकिता ।
क्व द्वैतं क्व च वाऽद्वैतं स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे ॥ १९.२ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.2: English Transliteration
kva dharmaḥ kva ca vā kāmaḥ kva cārthaḥ kva vivekitā ।
kva dvaitaṃ kva ca vā’dvaitaṃ sva-mahimni sthitasya me ॥19.2॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.2: Translation
Where is dharma, righteousness, or where is desire, where is wealth, where is discrimination? Where is duality or non-duality, for me who abides in my own grandeur?
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.3Transcending Time and Space
क्व भूतं क्व भविष्यद्वा वर्तमानमपि क्व वा ।
क्व देश: क्व च वा नित्यं स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे ॥ १९.३ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.3: English Transliteration
kva bhūtaṃ kva bhaviṣyad-vā vartamānam-api kva vā ।
kva deśaḥ kva ca vā nityaṃ sva-mahimni sthitasya me॥19.3॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.3: Translation
For me, dwelling in my own supreme grandeur, where is past, where is future either, or even the present? Where is any place to be marked distinctly or where is even eternity?
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.4Thought and no-thought Dissolved in Awareness
क्व चात्मा क्व च वानात्मा क्व शुभं क्वाशुभं तथा ।
क्व चिन्ता क्व च वाचिन्ता स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे ॥ १९.४ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.4: English Transliteration
kva cātmā kva ca vānātmā kva śubhaṃ kvāśubhaṃ tathā ।
kva cintā kva ca vācintā sva-mahimni sthitasya me ॥19.4॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.4: Translation
For me resting in my own greatness, where is the Self or where is non-Self? Likewise, where is anything auspicious and anything inauspicious? Where is thought and where is no thought either?
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.5Transcending the Four States
क्व स्वप्न: क्व सुषुप्तिर्वा क्व च जागरणं तथा ।
क्व तुरीयं भयं वापि स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे ॥ १९.५ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.5: English Transliteration
kva svapnaḥ kva suṣuptir-vā kva ca jāgaraṇaṃ tathā ।
kva turīyaṃ bhayaṃ vāpi sva-mahimni sthitasya me ॥19.5॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.5: Translation
Dwelling as I am in my own enchanting effulgence, where is dream or where is sleep, where is likewise wakefulness as well? Where is even the turīyam, the fourth factor, or where is any fear as well?
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.6Distance and Nearness are Notions of the Mind
क्व दूरं क्व समीपं वा बाह्यं क्वाभ्यन्तरं क्व वा ।
क्व स्थूलं क्व च वा सूक्ष्मं स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे ॥ १९.६ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.6: English Transliteration
kva dūraṃ kva samīpaṃ vā bāhyaṃ kvābhyantaraṃ kva vā ।
kva sthūlaṃ kva ca vā sūkṣmaṃ sva-mahimni sthitasya me॥19.6॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.6: Translation
For me abiding in my own ineffable glory, where is distance or where is nearness, where is external or where is internal either? Where is gross and where is subtle either?
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.7Life, Death, Worlds, Laya and Samadhi: All Negated in Self-Realization
क्व मृत्युर्जीवितं वा क्व लोका: क्वास्य क्व लौकिकम् ।
क्व लय: क्व समाधिर्वा स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे ॥ १९.७ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.7: English Transliteration
kva mṛtyur-jīvitaṃ vā kva lokāḥ kvāsya kva laukikam ।
kva layaḥ kva samādhir-vā sva-mahimni sthitasya me ॥19.7॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.7: Translation
For me existing in my own magnificence, where is death or life? Where are the worlds for me and where is worldliness? Where is stupor, torpidity or where is samadhi?
Ashtavakra Samhita 19.8Needless Are Yoga, Spiritual Wisdom and Trivarga for One Resting in the Self
अलं त्रिवर्गकथया योगस्य कथयाप्यलम् ।
अलं विज्ञानकथया विश्रान्तस्य ममात्मनि ॥ १९.८ ॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.8: English Transliteration
alaṃ tri-varga-kathayā yogasya kathayāpy-alam ।
alaṃ vijñāna-kathayā viśrāntasya mamātmani ॥19.8॥
Ashtavakra Gita 19.8: Translation
For me, resting peacefully in my Self, it is needless to talk about the three objects of pursuit (namely dharma, artha and kāma – righteousness, wealth and desire-gratification), meaningless to speak about yoga practice also, and of no benefit to discuss about spiritual wisdom too.
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